Improvement in fire-kindlers



J. H. PRENTICE. Fire-Kindler.

No. 201,045. Patented March 5, |878.

Wmbbwf REWDOM NFETERs. PHOTQ-LITHDGRAPNR, WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JAMES H. PRENTIGE, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-KINDLERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,045, dated March 5,1878; application filed February 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. PRENTICE, of Saginaw, in the countyofSaginaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Kindling Material, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to an improvement in re-kindlers, as hereinaftermore fully set forth.

The object of the invention is to construct kindling material in blockshaving slots cut in them, the slots being open on alternating ends ofthe block, and having their inner ends eX- tended slightly beyond thecenter of same, so as to preserve the ends of the block solid as far aspossible, and to render the parts between the inner ends of the slotsthin enough to readily ignite.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of same.

A represents the block of kindling material, which may be of anysuitable dimensions, and is supplied with the series of slots a b, asshown, which alternately enter the block on opposite ends, and extend aproper distance beyond the vertical center thereof. Thus it is obviousthat the central portions of the block, being cut by the inner ends ofboth the series of slots a b, will be reduced to a readilyignitibledimension, while that portion be tween the inner extremities of theslots and the edge of the block, being traversed by only one series ofslots, is left in an almost solid condition.

The block thus constructed is first coated with a resinous or otheriniiammable compound, and then receives a layer of sawdust, in order toincrease its combustibility.

I am aware that re-kindlers consisting of a block possessing a head orbody with a series of partitions of the same or different widths,forming draft-fines, are old, and therefore do not claim such a device;but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A block of kindling material in which the vertical inner portions areof the same depth as the block, but are thinner than the outer endsthereof, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A block of kindling material having the longitudinal slots a b, theinner ends of which pass slightly beyond the vertical center of theblock, while the outer ends are open at alternate ends of same,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in kindlingmaterial, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 31st dayof January, 1878.

JAMES H. PRENTICE.

Witnesses BENJ. C. HARRINGTON, G. R. CARGILL.

